The 'Waffle House Index' is an unofficial gauge for hurricane impact. Here's what it is

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·3 min read

In the minds of Floridians well versed in the ways of proper hurricane preparation, the importance of spaghetti models and “cone of uncertainty” graphs are dwarfed by the coveted yet feared “Waffle House Index.”

While most places across the U.S. joke that things are about to get serious when meteorologist Jim Cantore shows up, our sign in the South is when area Waffle Houses announce that they’re boarding up. What happens when both occur at the same time? Nothing good.

All jokes aside, the Waffle House Index is a very real barometer that is unofficially used by state, local and federal governments to gauge the magnitude of disasters throughout the Southeast.

When news that a hurricane impacting the U.S. is imminent, a small team of Waffle House employees is already gearing up preparations at its headquarters just outside Atlanta.

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The team puts together “jump teams” of operators from Waffle Houses across the region to send generators, RVs and gas to impacted restaurants — and make sure they’re stocked with food so restaurants can provide their communities with hot meals during times they would otherwise be considered a commodity.

“We try to plan, and our plan gets us up to the storm. Once the storm hits, we really just react,” Pat Warner, director of public relations and external affairs for Waffle House told the News Journal in a 2019 interview. “We try to be nimble.”

Never heard of the Waffle House Index? Here’s what to know.

What is the Waffle House Index?

The Waffle House Index is an unofficial term first used by FEMA administrator Craig Fugate after the Joplin tornado in May 2011, according to Accuweather.

It was used to describe how Waffle House responds to disasters. The Waffle House Index can indicate how quickly a community is going to recover after a hurricane.

For people, the Waffle House Index is more than eggs and pancakes, it’s a slice of normalcy and a comforting sign of hope.

What are the Waffle House Index levels?

The Waffle House Index has three levels. Here’s what they are:

  • Green: The Waffle House is open and serving a full menu. This means the restaurant has power and there is either no damage or it’s minimal.

  • Yellow: The Waffle House is open but serving a limited menu. This means that power is out and the restaurant is running on a generator.

  • Red: The Waffle House is closed and the area has likely experienced severe damage or severe flooding.

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Is the Waffle House Index accurate?

The Waffle House Index is considered accurate in part because it isn’t used to measure specifics but rather to gauge a storm’s impact on a community. What helps its accuracy here is the volume of stores — there are hundreds scattered across the Southeast.

Is the Waffle House Index really used by the government?

Yes, the government really does use the Waffle House Index, though not necessarily in an official capacity. Fugate has stated publicly that the Waffle House Index has been used internally at FEMA to help the agency determine which areas need more disaster relief services.

When do Waffle House restaurants close?

The driving factor behind the Waffle House Index is the restaurant’s philosophy to stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But the popular restaurant chain will close every so often.

"We do have closures in mandatory evacuation zones and locations within low-lying areas that are subject to severe flooding," Waffle House Vice President of Public Relations Njeri Boss told USA TODAY last year.

Did Waffle House close during Hurricane Ian?

Yes. Waffle House closed 21 locations across the state from Naples along the Gulf of Mexico north some 120 miles to Bradenton in Manatee County as a precaution before closing an additional 14 stores. There were 35 locations closed in total.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Why 'Waffle House Index,' closures became gauge for hurricane impact